The old bridge over the Buffeljags (Buffelsjags) River is a fascinating little landmark with a few colourful stories attached. The bridge, built between 1845 and 1852, is believed to be the third-oldest of historic significance in South Africa. By 2016, it was declared the second most endangered heritage site in the country (which sounds fancy but basically means “falling apart”).
It’s a nine-span bridge made of stone-clad piers, timber joists with braces, and a timber deck salvaged from a shipwreck of the ship Robert, wrecked in 1847 in Gordon’s Bay. The timber cost £3.00; the transport to Swellendam cost £1 000. Logistics have clearly always been a rip-off.
It formed a part of the old east-west wagon road (Groote Wagen Weg), an important transport link before modern highways. The real drama was the mortar. Portland cement wasn’t yet available in Africa, so they had to improvise. Lime mortar was too slow to harden (flood = bye-bye bridge). They tried gypsum, but it set faster than instant noodles—no time to position the blocks. The solution? Add household sugar to slow it down. Yes, this bridge was literally held together with sugar and good intentions.
Article: Jinx Louw